“Is it because of mister?”
“It’s not because of that man! And why do you call him ‘mister’? It’s annoying.”
“Because he’s an uncle…”
“Don’t call him that in front of me. It’s annoying.”
Julia, expressing her irritation, stuffed food into her mouth as if to relieve stress.
Charlotte watched her face for a moment, tilting her head once, then again to the other side.
‘Why is she so prickly only towards him?’
Of course, Julia’s prickliness was nothing new.
Her tendency to charge ahead without thinking had often led to arguments with the other orphans, sometimes even physical fights.
Since Julia began suffering from insomnia, it had gotten much worse.
This earned her the nickname ‘Mad Dog.’
It was a fitting name as she would lash out at everything like a crazed dog.
So, was this behavior of Julia the same as the ‘Mad Dog’ from before?
No. It was clearly different from back then.
Julia used to get angry for Charlotte and Yuri’s sake, rarely for her own.
But now, she was raging due to a simple conflict with one person.
It was strange.
Once Julia deemed someone a worthless piece of trash, she would ignore them entirely and no longer get angry.
Even though she called Aslan a lowlife every day, she constantly found new reasons to complain about him.
It was a curious irony.
“What bothers you so much? He treats us well.”
“Don’t you feel uneasy? Do you think he’s being nice out of pure kindness?”
“…?”
Charlotte’s eyes seemed to ask, “If not, then what?”
Julia pounded her chest in frustration.
Oh, this naive girl.
“Of course it’s kindness. The director who barely fed us and made us sleep in cold, uncomfortable places was a bad person. Compared to him, Aslan, who gives us good food and lets us sleep in warm, cozy rooms, is a good person.”
“You’re so naive! He’s pretending to be nice to deceive you!”
“Really?”
“Yes. Obviously. For the infamous Vermonts to treat sl*ves this way means they have some scheme.”
“I… don’t understand, Julia.”
“What don’t you understand!?”
Even after explaining it so kindly, she doesn’t get it?
Charlotte might be slow, but she wasn’t stupid.
Julia had never seen Charlotte as frustrating as today.
“Even if I concede that you’re right, Julia. Even if Aslan has some wicked scheme, I like the way things are now.”
“What?”
“I prefer the Aslan who treats us well with harsh words over the director who said he loved us but made us suffer. Did you prefer the orphanage?”
“No, but…”
Julia trailed off.
It was true, yet not.
The orphanage had been more painful and harsh.
But in the orphanage, the enemy was clear.
Here, it wasn’t. She wasn’t sure if Aslan was an enemy.
Her heart said he was a clear villain, but there was no evidence.
For someone like Julia, who had lived her life fueled by hate, this was mentally exhausting.
She wanted to hate but couldn’t.
It was frustrating beyond words.
“I’m not wrong. My eyes can’t be wrong. Aslan is a bad person. He must be…”
“Alright, alright. Tell me without crying.”
“I’m not crying!”
Julia began to sob, and Charlotte chuckled, hugging her.
Julia was always so worried.
What did it matter if Aslan was good or bad?
Charlotte cared more about the delicious food and sweet sleep now.
“I’ll catch him for sure. I’ll find proof that Aslan is a bad person…”
“Sure, sure. I’ll be waiting, detective.”
“Stop teasing me!!!”
“Sorry.”
“I miss Yuri…”
“Me too.”
Julia put down her bowl and lay down, sobbing.
Strong and resilient Yuri.
If he were here, Julia wouldn’t be worrying like this.
He would know what to do.
“I miss Yuri so much. How is he doing now?”
“Well, Yuri is Yuri, so he’s probably doing fine wherever he is.”
“Yeah? I hope so…”
Julia’s face darkened.
Yuri probably thought they were being tortured as experimental subjects.
“I hope he’s not overdoing it for our sake…”
We’re okay.
At least ‘for now’ we’re okay.
If possible, I want Yuri to know we’re doing well.
***
The Imperial Capital.
Streets bustling with dapper gentlemen and elegant ladies.
Among them, a pair of dirty, barefoot feet moved silently through an alley.
“Hey! What happened? When did my bag disappear?”
“Coachman! What is this commotion?”
“I swear, the bag was right here just a moment ago…”
“That bag contained the new suit I had tailored just yesterday!”
A barefoot child, now clutching a large bag, quickly disappeared down the alley.
While not entirely adept, the child’s skill was sufficient.
The pitch-black guilt that had settled within the child dissipated quickly as he opened the bag to check its contents.
“Alright, this should do.”
A well-tailored suit and shoes.
Both were a bit large, but they were better than nothing.
There was no way he could take the Imperial Magic Academy entrance exam in his current ragged state.
Any formal attire would do.
“I’d love to storm in right now, but I’m not strong enough yet…”
Grrrr.
Grinding his teeth, Yuri thought of Charlotte and Julia, left behind at the Vermont estate.
They were surely waiting for him, counting the days until his return.
He wanted to rush to their rescue immediately, but the harsh reality was that with his current strength, he couldn’t even make it past the front gate of the Vermont estate, let alone rescue Charlotte and Julia.
Haste makes waste.
It was torturous to think of Charlotte and Julia suffering, but Yuri had to use this anger as fuel to grow.
He needed to learn magic and become stronger.
“I need to learn magic and become strong enough to defeat Aslan Vermont!”
The Imperial Magic Academy’s Combat Magic Department was akin to a military academy.
It trained future magic officers, and the imperial family covered the tuition entirely.
If Yuri could get into the combat magic department, he could learn magic for free.
He just had to pass the entrance exam.
Resolutely, Yuri stepped into the bustling Imperial Magic Academy.
“I’m here to take the entrance exam for the Combat Magic Department.”
“Yes, please come this way. What’s your name?”
“Yuri…”
“Your last name?”
“Yuri Brussels.”
“Alright, Yuri Brussels. Please submit your citizenship card.”
“Citizenship card?”
“If you don’t have a citizenship card, a passport will do. All candidates for the Combat Magic Department must prove imperial citizenship.”
“…!”
Yuri’s pupils widened at the shocking revelation.
A citizenship card?
Of course, it made sense that not just anyone could take the exam to become a military officer.
“Ah…”
His dreams were dashed in an instant.
So close, yet stopped here.
Being an orphan without parents was a barrier he couldn’t overcome.
Despair and inferiority filled Yuri’s heart as he turned back the way he came, his footsteps heavy.
‘The only option left is to join the underworld…’
There was a backup plan. Joining an underground organization.
The imperial capital’s dark underbelly was as extensive as its glittering facade.
In such an organization, he could easily learn the combat magic he needed.
‘I don’t like it, but…’
An underground group wouldn’t teach him for free.
They would surely dirty his hands, bind him with obligations, and ensure he could never leave.
They would make him a permanent member of the underworld.
It was a future he could see clearly, but he had no other choice.
Saving Charlotte and Julia was far more important.
He could fall as low as needed, but not those girls. They had to be protected.
“Yuri?”
“Yes?”
“It’s really you. A small frame and a pretty face like a parasitic aristocrat. Just as I heard.”
“…Who are you, and how do you know me?”
“I am the headmaster of this school. An anonymous benefactor has expressed a desire to support you. Your tuition will be fully covered, so you can attend school without worry.”
“…!”
Yuri’s eyes widened.
An anonymous benefactor?
What did that mean?
Someone knew him and wanted to support him with full tuition coverage?
It was so sudden and unbelievable that he was left stunned.
“Then, can I choose my department?”
“No. The benefactor has already decided. You will be enrolling in the Department of Magical Arts.”
“…Excuse me?”
What was this? The seemingly harmless department?
